Smartphones. We are practically glued to them. In fact, more than half of Britons never leave the house without their precious mobile phone. Gone are the days when work and private life used to be separated. Now smartphones have blurred the lines between the two, ensuring that employees are reachable and able to work wherever …
Smartphones. We are practically glued to them. In fact, more than half of Britons never leave the house without their precious mobile phone. Gone are the days when work and private life used to be separated. Now smartphones have blurred the lines between the two, ensuring that employees are reachable and able to work wherever they are.
If answering or using a phone is a main part of your job, a headset can bring a new level of easy to a stress-induced environment. Using a headset not only prevents neck pain and tired hands, but also meets the ever-increasing need for multitasking. We’ve outlined the main designs and features to help you find the headset that best suits your needs.
A matter of design
Mobile phone headsets are available in a range of designs and wearing styles. Most mobile phones come with their own designated headset. These look like a pair of headphones and usually include a remote with mic placed along the cord. Apple’s EarPods are a good example of this design and feature an in-built microphone for answering calls.
However, this type of headset often requires you to hold the mic close to your mouth for the voice to be transmitted accurately, which can be tiring if you have to be on the phone for hours. Their specific design may also result in inconsistent voice quality, making them unsuitable for frequent callers.
Traditional headsets consist of a chord, a mouthpiece and earphones, which can be adjusted for added comfort. The mouthpiece sits close to your mouth no matter how you turn your head to allow for enhanced voice quality. These headsets can also be less damaging to your ears as they are not placed directly into your ear canal. But traditional headsets can be overly bulky and thus less suitable to be used on the go.
Another type of headset like the Jabra WAVE consists of only one earphone. Featuring a paperclip design, these headsets are comfortably attached to your ear and have a microphone implanted inside. They tend to deliver high sound quality and are small enough to fit inside a pocket or bag.
Which headset design is best for you depends on various factors including usage and personal preferences. One of the most important decisions faced when buying a mobile headset is whether to opt for a wired model or go wireless for extra comfort.
Wired or Wireless?
Since wires can easily become tangled, wireless headsets are a great way to add comfort and convenience to your work life. They also tend to provide better voice clarity and filter out background noise so the person on the other end of the line can hear you clearly even in noisy and windy environments. And thanks to technological advances, it is now more affordable than ever to invest in a wireless headset.
Wireless headsets come in multiple sizes and designs. Most operate via Bluetooth so they can be connected to any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. The only downside of going wireless is that Bluetooth headsets rely entirely on signal strength, which might cause problems in rural and isolated areas.
One of the best Bluetooth mono headsets out right now is the Plantronics Voyager Edge. It’s sleeker than the fashionable Jawbone Era and features outstanding noise cancellation and call quality. Thanks to its lightweight and comfortable design you may even forget that you’re wearing it.
Another top-end device is the Bose Bluetooth Headset Series 2, available as a left or right ear version to suit individual needs. It’s TriPort® acoustic structure and adaptive audio adjustment technology ensure better voice transmission and a constant listening level.
If you are looking for a budget wireless headset, the Plantronics M55 is the best in its price range. Sleek and small, the Plantronics M55 provides a good call quality and comes with a DeepSleep feature to extend battery life.
Extra features
Besides great voice clarity, some Bluetooth headsets are also equipped with features to enhance your music and multimedia experience. Stereo Bluetooth headsets are ideal for busy audiophiles who want to combine quality sound with seamless call functionality.
One of the finest stereo Bluetooth headsets on the market is the Plantronics BackBeat Go 2. Featuring a compact and lightweight design, this stereo Bluetooth headset boasts 6 mm speaker drivers for enhanced bass and can pair up to 8 devices. Like its predecessor, the Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 is the perfect companion for an intensive workout session and also comes with a reasonable price tag.
If you are looking for an extremely versatile stereo headset, the Jabra Clipper might tick all your boxes. Attached to your clothing or bag, this headset does not only allow you to handle calls on the go but also lets you stream music to your home stereo system. Moreover, it gives you the flexibility to use your own pair of headphones.
Sony’s SBH20 Bluetooth Headset makes pairing your headset to your mobile easier than ever before. By touching the back of your NFC enabled smartphone, your headset is connected in 2 seconds without the need for pressing any buttons. If HD voice quality and a dynamic stereo audio is what you want, you really can’t go wrong with this headset.
Most headsets on the market now offer noise cancellation and voice enhancement technology to ensure optimum performance. They also come equipped with intuitive controls to answer calls and change the volume. Some models even allow you to perform these functions hands-free by just using your voice. The Plantronics Marque 2 M165, for instance, features in-built voice commands to answer/ignore calls, which can also be deactivated.
For ultimate convenience, choose a headset model that can be connected to multiple Bluetooth devices simultaneously. The Jawbone Icon HD or Sennheiser Presence premium headset are a great option if you want to switch seamlessly back and forth without having to pause.
Get the right fit
Comfort is an important factor when choosing the right headset. After all, you want to avoid embarrassing situations where a loose earpiece might fall out during an important phone call. To ensure the best sound clarity and comfort, make sure you choose a model that is shaped exactly to your ears and head.
In-ear models often include tips in different sizes to maximise comfort and stability. Some headsets also offer multiple wearing styles ensuring a perfect fit with your ear. The Motorola HX550 or the Jabra Mini let you choose between various options including in-ear and over-the-ear with an adjustable earhook. Ergonomically designed ear adapters ensure that your headset remains comfortable, even after hours of use.
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